It is heavily stressed that kayakers should wear their PFD at all times. Sadly, many lose their lives despite this when they succomb to cold water temperatures while awaiting rescue from a capsized kayak.

When the body loses heat faster than it can replace it the result is hypothermia. Your brain and
vital organs need to be kept at the correct temperature for proper functioning,
particularly the brain, your most vital organ. Regular body temperature is 98.6
F; hypothermia is medically defined when the body temp drops to below 95 F degrees.
Severe hypothermia occurs when body temp drops below 90 F degrees. Photo
by Andrew Thompson

When your
body experiences heat loss at a rate that exceeds its ability to replace
it, several automatic functions are triggered. This can happen rapidly
after a capsize or soaking, or it can take place over a long period
of time such as a cool, windy, rainy day when you are wearing inadequate
clothing. Any time you are exposed to the weather and the elements you
run a chance of hypothermia, hence the older name of the condition;
exposure.

The first automatic responses to this type of cold exposure are common
and many of us have felt them to some degree. Blood flow to the extremities
is restricted, leaving the hands, feet, arms and legs cold, sometimes
in pain. This happens to keep your core warm.

Your
core is: head, neck and torso. Your body does this automatically to
prevent blood from flowing (some still flows) into your extremities,
cooling there, and then flowing back into your core, at a lower temperature,
adversely affecting the function of your heart and brain. The other
response is shivering. Shivering is also an automatic reaction to the
cold. It is your body's way of creating more heat by exercising. When
muscles contract, and burn fuel, in the form of calories, heat is produced.
For example, you get warm when you work out at the gym. Shivering is
an uncontrollable "work out" to make you warm and "feel
the burn."("Hypo Man" by I. M. Chilly)

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and a large mesh pocket. Reflective patches front and back.

The first
noticeable sign of hypothermia is shivering. You may feel your extremities
cooling, but your comrades will only be able to see shivering. Judgment
and coordination in the victim may begin to slip. As soon as you or
someone in your group is shivering and feeling cold, take steps to prevent
hypothermia by stopping and warming up. Put on a hat, an extra layer
and change out of wet ones. Nip it in the bud now! Don't let yourself
or anyone else "tuff it out."

Hypothermia
will progress with out a warm up. Additional symptoms will indicate
their worsening condition. They may seem a bit drunk with slurred or
scrambled speech, stumbling and loss of dexterity evidenced by difficulty
paddling. A paddler suffering from Hypothermia may make bad decisions
or act confused. This is caused by the brain not operating at the correct
temperature. These signs should indicate the need for IMMEDIATE action
to warm that person.

Severe
Hypothermia comes with the continued exposure to cold. The victim will
exhibit disorientation, irritability, irrational behavior or apathy.
Shivering will stop when the body temperature drops to about 90 degrees.
Muscles will become stiff. They will likely not be able to do anything
for themselves physically, or even be aware that the problem needs to
be addressed. As symptoms progress the victim may look blue, gray, or
even dead. Unconsciousness will eventually result. The final stage is
cardiac (heart) and respiratory (lungs) failure.

Treatment

At
first signs of shivering and feeling cold stop and get warm. This may be as
simple as putting on a hat or extra layer if you act promptly prior to the onset
of hypothermia. Check your paddling mates regularly if weather conditions are
cool and water temperatures are low. If you or someone in your group is soaked
and cold you need to go ashore and replace wet insulation layers with dry. Get
out a hot thermos for those who are cold to drink something warm. High calorie
hot chocolate or sweetened herbal tea is best. Caffeineated beverages and alcohol
can worsen the situation. If possible have a non-affected party member set up
a shelter, tarp or tent, to keep out of the rain and wind. Those who are affected
may need help to change clothing, and refuel. Try to get insulation from the
ground using a camp mattress or unfolded "crazy creek chair", spare
clothing or any thing dry and handy. Stay off wet muddy beaches and rocky areas,
move into vegetation and dry leaf litter on the ground.

During
periods of in activity you may need to exercise a bit to keep your body
heat up. Jogging, jumping jacks and such should warm you up, but don't
over do it and start to sweat; the moisture will cool you too much.

If one
member in a group is suffering it may indicate that others are on the
verge. Every one should, at this point, replace wet garments and layer
up, at least while resting. The group members should drink something
warm and have a snack; high calorie foods with sugar, carbohydrate,
oils and fats are best.

This type
of break is good to assess you choice of clothing and your back up garments,
the weather and maybe even your paddling plan for the day. If all party
members are completely re-warmed, dry, full of food and drink, fit and
rational, then you can resume your journey or head back home. When in
doubt of your ability to continue safely, staying warm and dry, cancel
your plans and return to the put in. It may even be necessary to stay
put until conditions improve.

For really
cold paddlers and chilly conditions put several people in a tarp shelter
or tent, or even huddled under the same space blanket, this will warm
body and spirit. Heat packs can be used to help warm a cold paddler.
Make sure that they are wrapped in a cloth to avoid direct contact with
the skin and prevent the possibility of burns. Test them on your own
skin. They should be placed at the soles of feet, palms of hands, neck,
chest, armpits and groin, where blood flows close to the surface.

If
a hypothermia victim has advanced beyond the first indications, and is exhibiting
loss of speech and dexterity, or consciousness, then greater steps need to be
taken. Landing and shelter is imperative. Changing the victim into warm, dry
clothing is necessary, but other steps need to be taken as well. Keep head and
neck warm and dry; most body heat is lost from there. A fire may need to be
built. (Careful not to burn yourself or the victim.) Rapid re-warming, such
as a hot bath is not advised. Insulation from the ground is very important,
use any dry materials at hand. You will likely need to wrap the victim and a
warm volunteer in a blanket, sleeping bag or space blanket with direct skin
contact if sufficient insulation is available. One or two warm, dry volunteers
can re-warm a victim in this manner. Shelter then in such a way that the air
they are breathing is warmer than the air out side. Warm beverages can to be
administered only to a conscious, coherent victim in small amounts slowly and
carefully so as not to cause cold blood from the extremities to rush to the
core. If the victim is unconscious, or disorientated, beverages cannot be given
until consciousness and rationality are regained to avoid choking. In severe
cases treat the victim very carefully, like glass. Keep them still and avoid
moving them. Sudden or jerky movement can affect heart rhythm adversely. Photo
by Andrew Thompson

If things
have progressed this far you will need help in treating and evacuating
the victim. It can take as much as 24 hours or more to fully recover
from Hypothermia. Your party is unlikely to be prepared for treatment
and evacuation on many levels. HELP MUST BE OBTAINED. If there is no
way of calling for help with VHF radio or cell phone, then messenger(s)
must be sent. If possible send two together to head for the nearest
source of aid, three if the party is large enough. Ideally two or three
people will stay behind to administer to the victim(s). Other emergency
signaling devices and methods should be used as well, and will be essential
if messengers can not be sent.

If your
victim appears dead, or signs of breathing and heartbeat are absent
do not give up, they may not be gone. Treatment and, if necessary, rescue
breathing should continue until the victim is warm, and only then can
you assume they are dead. Do not use standard CPR. CPR must be very
gentle and slow. (1 breath, long & slow, every 10 sec. & 1 compression
very 2 sec.) Chest compressions can affect heart rhythm with fatal results;
only perform chest compressions if you are absolutely sure they are
in cardiac arrest. Bear in mind pulse may be very weak and slow. Rescue
breathing only, would be a more cautious approach and can even be administered
carefully to a barely breathing victim matching their breath rate.

Well that
all sounded terrible, are you scared yet? You can take steps to prevent
and prepare for this scenario. In doing so you will reduce your chance
of experiencing hypothermia greatly.

The easiest
step in preparation is proper rest, food and water intake. Plan your
trip carefully so you do not have to stay up all night packing, fixing
equipment and driving. Get a good nights sleep before any day trip or
expedition.

Pack a
lot of easy to eat snacks that can stand up to a wet environment and
be eaten in the cockpit with wet hands. Bring extra to share, and as
emergency rations for extended stays. I like single serving, plastic
packed snack bars, string cheese and such. They fit into PFD pockets
and deck bags with out additional waterproofing. Granola and sports
bars (Not the kind you drink beer and watch TV at.) have sugars and
carbohydrates that metabolize fast and give quick burning fuel. Granola
bars also contain oils that burn a bit slower. String Cheese, and other
similar foods containing fat and protein burn much slower. Their fuel
benefit is not immediate but long lasting. Your strategy should be to
have the fast burning fuels regularly, maybe every hour or so, and take
the slow burning fuels periodically to maintain a reserve of high calorie
fuel.

Adequate
hydration is very important to performance in all activities. The water
you drink will maintain the proper level of blood flow and circulation.
Dehydration can help accelerate Hypothermia. Have a drink before the
start of your trip, and bring along a couple bottles to sip on along
the way. It is best to sip a bit frequently, rather than guzzle a whole
bunch at once. I have found that a drinking hose, hydration system,
like a camelbak, helps me to keep up a regular intake. Many kayaks have
a spot in the cockpit to hold a water bottle. If it is right there in
front of you than you will be more likely to take a drink. We frequently
use spring water bottles (often refilled) for convenience and economy.
Don't forget the cocoa! A hot beverage in a durable quality thermos
will not only hydrate you but keep you warm, and may be a lifesaver.

A
proper clothing plan will help you stay warm and dry. Select garments from your
clothing arsenal that you feel are best suited to the weather conditions of
that day. Pay special attention to the water temperature as opposed to the air
temperature. Think in terms of layers that can be added or removed while seated
in the cockpit of your kayak, a hat is the most effective layer with this in
mind. If you are wearing a dry suit you will NOT be able to add or remove layers,
except a hat. Never open your dry suit while on the water, it will flood if
you fall in and prevent you from re-mounting your kayak, as well as compromising
your insulation layer. If you over-heat in a dry suit, slash your self, you
will cool down.

When using
layers plan to take off a layer before you over heat and get sweaty.
As soon as you stop exercising put on a layer before you cool down.
A hat can be very handy for this purpose, as well as a poly vest or
splash top.

Be prepared,
or over prepared, in your clothing selection and layering plan. Be ready
for unexpected weather, waves and capsize. If you know you will be paddling
through surf, or see rain clouds on the horizon have your splash gear
on. If you know that you will be in rough open water conditions you
should be wearing the garments, from the very start of your trip, which
will protect you if you end up in the water.

At
Tom's TopKayaker Shop:POGIES
Neoprene paddling mitts to keep your hands warm in raw weather.
Wraps around paddle shaft giving the paddler the option
of bare hands grip inside mitt, or can be used with paddling
gloves for extra protection.

Pack a
complete outfit of back up clothing into a dry bag and store in a hatch
Have extra layers like splash wear, fleece vest, and hat in a handy,
ready access location like a large backrest pocket or deck bag. If you
have fair weather at the start of the trip these extra layers will be
ready for you when the weather turns foul.

Pack your
self a Hypothermia kit. In a waterproof bag place as many of the following
items as you feel necessary. Bring a space blanket, or two. They are
so easy to pack and can fit in a pocket. They will reflect your body
heat back to you. I like to bring the heavy-duty kind as well, sometimes
called an "All

Weather
Blanket." Not only are they a good space blanket but they can be
strung up as a windbreak or emergency shelter, using the corner grommets
and some string. Speaking of bulky, a fleece blanket will be of great
need to any accident victim, nice for picnics too. A camp towel is a
bit easier to pack and if large enough it is almost a blanket. The camp
towel will allow you to dry off during a change and reduce evaporative
heat loss as well as keeping your back up clothing dry. Fire starting
material is nice to have. Waterproof / windproof matches or a lighter
are the basic tools, but you can supplement them with tinder, such as
candle stubs, commercial fire starters, and other saved dry materials
like paper, birch bark. (I have even heard that dryer lint and steel
wool can be used in this manner.) Some paddlers will bring along a camp
stove or sterno can, with pot and cup, complete with cocoa, tea or instant
soup. Pack your fuel separately to avoid leaking problems.

Use
your common sense, be well prepared and educate your self with first
aid knowledge to be safe and secure in your paddling adventures.